Extruder, in particular for producing curved extrusion products

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an extruder ( 1 ), in particular for producing curved extrusion products. According to the invention, the extrusion product is formed and subsequently curved or bent by the action of external forces in a mould ( 11 ), which is located on a counter tie-bar ( 8 ) of the extruder and usually comprises a pressure part ( 9 ) and a die holder ( 14 ) that houses the die ( 13 ). The entire mould ( 11 ) is located in the counter tie-bar ( 8 )

The invention relates to an extrusion press [extruder], especially for producing curved extruded products, whereby the pressed product in a tool arranged on a counterbeam [traverse] of the extruder which usually encompasses a pressure part and a die-receiving die holder, is shaped and is then curved or bent by the effect of external forces.

To manufacture curved or bent extruded sections [profiles] which are generally composed of aluminum and magnesium alloys which are required for various purposes in different industrial fields, it is known from EP 0 706 843 B1 to provide an extruder for hollow products with large wall thickness differences is to apply force at least at defined distances from the die outlet or counterbeam, using a pressure medium which produces a reaction effect upon the profile or section shaped in the extruder die. The pressing means can be a pressing roller, a sliding surface generating a transverse force or a roller cage. Independently of the pressure applying means which is used to bring about the reaction force, a certain distance must be maintained if the extruded product is to be simultaneously with or directly after shaping by the extrusion process to be bent or curved in such manner that the workpiece cross sections formed in the extrusion die are not to emerge parallel to one another from the die but rather are to assume an angle to one another. With this arrangement it is however not possible to produce sections with small bending radii.

It is the object of the invention, therefore, to provide an extruder for the purposes described which enables with simple means the production of a pressed product with a wide range of bending radii.

This object is attained, in accordance with the invention in that the entire tool is disposed in the counterbeam or traverse. In this manner, deviating from all known embodiments of extruders in which the tool or the die of the counterbeam is provided ahead of the pressing unit, the tool according to the invention can always project slightly out of the counterbeam, but predominantly, however, can be received in and anchored in the counterbeam with at least a shoulder toward the side or end facing in the direction of the press ram or the receiver holding the block or blank of metal to be extruded so that the extruded strand outlet can be located as close as possible to the exterior. This ensures earlier action on the strand to be bent than has hitherto been the case so that small bending radii can be formed thereon while the free end of the strand which is subjected to bending will undergo the bending effect after the much shorter outlet length from the die than has hitherto been the case. Depending upon the force application direction of the pressure applying means, radii in different directions are possible.

A refinement of the invention provides that the tool is provided in an enlarged pressure plate in the press direction which extends over the full length of the counterbeam. This allows compensation for a possible weakening of the pressure plate by such overdimensioning because of the recess or opening in which the integrated tool is received.

According to a preferred feature of the invention an increasingly widening outlet funnel is formed in the tool starting from the die and extending in the press direction outwardly in the press plate. In this manner not only is a free space provided to accommodate the bending or curvature of the strand but the formation of the smallest radii is further ensured because the deflection and thus the curvature of the strand can be commenced already within the counterbeam and the outlet funnel by the pressure when, in accordance with a further proposal of the invention, cylinders are arranged in the pressure plate parallel to the outlet funnel and are coupled with the tool, the entire tool can be moved out of the counterbeam rearwardly for the purpose of maintenance or replacement axially into a freely accessible position.

Further features and details of the invention are given in the claims and the following description of an embodiment of the invention illustrated in the single drawing FIGURE.

In the extruder 1 shown in the drawing and illustrated in a horizontal construction, in a cylinder beam 2, a press piston 3 is arranged with which a press ram 4 can be driven in the press direction 5 (see the arrow). The ram presses a block, not shown, which has previously been inserted into a receiver 7 which can be moved back and forth on slide guides 6 by means of shifting cylinders (not shown). The drawing shows the receiver 7 after it has assumed its working position adjacent of a counterbeam 8. The cylinder beam 2 and the counterbeam 8 can for example be connected by pressure posts and tension rods to a compact press frame with these elements in force-transmitting relationship with one another.

The counterbeam 8 is here provided with an enlarged pressure plate 9 which forms a component of the counterbeam. In the pressure plate a recess or cut-out 10 is provided which receives the tool 11 here constituted by a pressure piece 12, a die holder 14 connected thereto by screws and a die 13 carried by the die holder. The tool 11 is thus an integrated component of the counterbeam 8 with which the end of the receiver 7 confronting it, forms a snug contact, thereby bringing the block to be extruded to the die without any gap between the receiver and the die.

The tool 11 and the pressure plate 9 are formed with a tool funnel 15 starting at the inner side of the die 13 and widening outwardly in the press direction 5. In the pressure plate 9 there are provided cylinders 6 parallel to the funnel which are accessible without hindering from the outer side of the counterbeam 8 and via coupling pieces 17 fixed to their piston rods can be coupled by detent connections with the tool 11 or the die holder 17. For the maintenance or replacement or the like counterbeam 8, the tool can be displaced from the position shown in the drawing after the receiver 7 has been rearwardly shifted into its inoperative position, by energization of the cylinder 16 out of the mounted position in the recess 10 of the enlarged pressure plate and opposite the press direction 5 into a freely accessible position axially and forwardly.

In the pressing of a strand 18 as has been schematically illustrated, by appropriate pressure applying means indicated by the force arrow F, previously actuated, a small radius of curvature can be imparted to the strand. Since the tool 11 is fully housed in the counterbeam 8, this force can be applied as close to the outlet of the strand 18 from the counterbeam 8 as possible and thus such that the leading end of the strand before the force is applied is unusually short and the bending force is therefore applied as early as possible. It is also possible to apply this force by a pressure-applying means arranged already within the counterbeam, namely already at the outlet of the strand within the outlet funnel 15 of the tool 11. When the extruder 1 also is intended to make straight extrusions, the extrusion press operation is carried out without application of the force F. 

1. An extruder especially for producing curved extrusions, whereby the extrusion is formed in a tool arranged on a counterbeam of the extruder and which usually comprises a pressure piece and a die holder receiving the die, and is then curved or bent by the application of an external force, characterized in that the entire tool (11) is arranged in the counterbeam (8).
 2. The extruder according to claim 1 characterized in that the tool (11) is provided in a pressure plate which is enlarged and extends in the press direction over the entire length of the counterbeam (8).
 3. The extruder according to claim 1 characterized in that the tool (11), starting from the die (13) and within the pressure plate (9) a funnel (15) is formed which increasingly widens outwardly in the press direction (5).
 4. The extruder according to claim 1 characterized in that in the pressure plate (9) cylinders (16) are arranged parallel to the outlet funnel (15) and coupled with the tool (11). 